Chapter 22: Su Xueyan Has Met with Misfortune

"Yang Yun, where are you now? Are you alright? I'm coming to find you!" Su Xueyan’s voice came through, filled with urgent concern.

For some reason, I had a feeling that Su Xueyan already knew about what happened today.

"Don't worry, what could possibly happen to me? I’m just out having a meal with a friend. You should head home first!" I said, forcing a smile.

"Are you really alright?" Su Xueyan seemed somewhat unconvinced.

"I'm really fine. You go back first!"

Su Xueyan hung up the phone, clearly unwilling. At that moment, I was dragging my battered, scarred body slowly toward home. When I reached my doorstep, I suddenly spotted Su Xueyan standing there. Startled, I quickly lowered my head and turned to leave.

Su Xueyan saw me and rushed over to grab me. The moment she saw my miserable state, tears instantly streamed down her face. She cried, "Didn't you say you were alright?"

"No, actually I..." I stammered, unable to get the words out.

"Is it because of me?" Su Xueyan suddenly asked.

"What does it have to do with you? I just tripped and fell!" I lied, going against my conscience.

"You're still lying? Did you go to Brother Tao’s place and get beaten up because of me?" Su Xueyan shouted through her tears.

I stood there completely stunned. I didn't know how Su Xueyan knew so much, as if she had seen it all with her own eyes. I felt a sense of being manipulated, which made me extremely uncomfortable.

"No, don't overthink it. It will all pass eventually!" I rushed over to comfort her, hugging her and patting her back.

Su Xueyan didn't speak. After I let her go, she stared at me for a long time. I felt a chill in my heart and quickly asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"Let's break up," Su Xueyan suddenly said.

Hearing this, I was completely dumbfounded. My heart felt incredibly heavy, as if something were stuck in my chest. I murmured, "Why?"

"Because you lied to me, because you're useless, because you're a loser!" Su Xueyan almost roared, tears continuing to fall.

This sentence pierced my chest like a needle. I felt a pain so sharp I couldn't breathe. She was right; I really was useless. I slumped powerlessly to the ground, my trembling hands slowly pulling out a cigarette to light. I laughed at myself and said, "Break up? Haven't we never actually been together in the first place?"

It was true. Although the relationship between Su Xueyan and me was ambiguous, neither of us had ever confessed, so there was no such thing as a breakup.

"That's right, it was just my own wishful thinking. I never even asked if you liked me, haha!" Su Xueyan turned around and let out a long sigh.

I sat there, still smoking without a word. The pain in my heart had actually eclipsed the pain in my body. After finishing the cigarette, I lay on the ground in despair, staring at the dark sky.

I vaguely heard footsteps and knew Su Xueyan had left. I wanted to chase after her and hold her back, but I lacked the courage. At that moment, I reeked, looking like a beggar. What right did I have to win her back, and on what grounds? Perhaps this was for the best for both of us.

The next day, I went to school, but not with Su Xueyan. I arrived alone. Once in the classroom, I heard many classmates whispering about me.

"Have you heard? It looks like Yang Yun was beaten up by Zhang Yinuo’s brother yesterday!"

"I heard. And it sounds like he was beaten really badly, covered in filth!"

"Who told him to be so ignorant of his place and try to pursue Zhang Yinuo? It’s a classic case of a toad lusting after swan meat!"

"Look at this guy’s pathetic state, his face all bruised and purple. Serves him right!"

Hearing the classmates' gossip, I said nothing. I walked silently to my desk and started packing my things. Although I couldn't attend this school for the time being, I still wanted to fulfill Sister Shuang’s wish and study hard, even if it wasn't at school.

When Third Brother arrived at the classroom and saw me packing, covered in bruises, he quickly asked, "Damn, Fourth, what happened to you?"

I shook my head to indicate I was fine.

"Damn it, tell me, man! Tell your brother. Damn it, I’m going to beat him to death for daring to bully my brother!" Xu Hongzhi cursed angrily.

"Tch, stop posturing. That’s Zhang Longtao. If you dare to hit Zhang Longtao, I’ll livestream myself eating shit," a classmate nearby mocked Xu Hongzhi with disdain.

Xu Hongzhi grabbed the person who had just spoken and cursed, "Fuck your mother, you think I don't dare? I don't care who it is; if they dare to bully my brother, I’ll tear two pieces of meat off them even if it kills me!"

I pulled Xu Hongzhi back and said calmly, "Forget it."

"What are you afraid of? So what if he’s Zhang Longtao? Damn it, let’s go! I’m going to go kill him right now!" Xu Hongzhi, furious, grabbed me and wanted to go out to settle the score.

Just then, Zhang Yinuo appeared. As she walked over, Xu Hongzhi said irritably, "What are you here for? Isn't it enough that you’ve harmed Fourth enough already?"

Zhang Yinuo looked at me very apologetically and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know things would turn out like this!"

"This has nothing to do with you. Your brother and I have other issues. Even without you, this would have happened," I said flatly.

Zhang Yinuo didn't speak. I knew she probably didn't feel good either, but personally, I felt this really didn't have much to do with Zhang Yinuo. Zhang Longtao was purely using her as an excuse. His target was definitely me and Su Xueyan. As for why, I felt it had a lot to do with Wang Li.

However, it seemed Zhang Yinuo didn't think so. She pulled me and said, "I’ll take you to find my brother!"

I shook off Zhang Yinuo’s hand. I didn't want to lose face again, and relying on a woman for protection would make me feel even more humiliated. Although my dignity had already hit rock bottom, my inner pride and backbone still existed.

"No need, this really has nothing to do with you," I said coldly.

Seeing me like this, Zhang Yinuo didn't insist. But seeing me packing, she asked curiously, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, I don't want to study anymore. I'm going back," I said, packing my textbooks and picking up my schoolbag to leave.

Zhang Yinuo grabbed my arm and said, "No!"

I looked at Zhang Yinuo helplessly, put down my bag, and asked, "What do you want?"

"Wait for me after school. I want to take you out for a meal," Zhang Yinuo said, looking down and thinking.

I thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. After all, she had helped me a lot these past few days; treating her to a meal wasn't unreasonable. After that, we just wouldn't see each other again.

After packing, I ignored the gazes of others and left the school directly. Third Brother followed me without a word. I had wanted him to stay and study, but he said it was pointless. He had only come to this school to accompany me; now that I was leaving, he had no desire to stay. Although the girls at school were easy on the eyes, in his words, he could still pick them up if he wanted to.

In the evening, I waited for Zhang Yinuo at the school gate. Suddenly, I saw Su Xueyan. Seeing me standing at the gate, she wanted to come over and say something, but hesitated in the end. I, however, took the initiative to greet her. After all, we weren't enemies; there was no need to become strangers just because we had broken up.

Su Xueyan looked at me and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for someone."

Just as I finished speaking, Zhang Yinuo arrived. She walked over and said apologetically, "Sorry, class ended late!"

Seeing Zhang Yinuo, Su Xueyan’s expression became complex. She looked at me, smiled slightly, and said, "Looks like you’re doing well. Have fun!"

With that, she turned and left. Zhang Yinuo nudged me, and I looked at her in confusion.

Zhang Yinuo whispered to me, "Aren't you going to chase after her?"

I gave a helpless, self-deprecating laugh: "What right do I have to chase after her?"

"I think you should go after her and see. Otherwise, I think you might regret it later," Zhang Yinuo said softly.

I thought about it, but still didn't take that step. I sighed and said, "Forget it, let’s go. Let’s eat!"

Zhang Yinuo didn't say anything more. At the restaurant, we really just had a simple meal, barely even communicating. I didn't know what topic to bring up, and Zhang Yinuo seemed to have something on her mind today too, remaining silent. We sat like that for a long time.

Finally, a phone call broke the silence. I checked my phone and saw it was a call from Third Brother, so I answered.

An anxious voice came from the other end: "Fourth, Night Color Bar, come quickly! Your sister-in-law is in trouble!"

"What did you say? Who? Xueyan? What happened?" I hadn't reacted yet.

"It’s hard to explain, just come quickly! If you don't come, you might not see her again!" Third Brother was clearly very anxious.

Hearing Third Brother’s words, I froze completely. I quickly stood up, threw down two hundred yuan, and said to Zhang Yinuo, "Sorry, I have an emergency, I have to go!"

My heart was filled with extreme anxiety. Thinking of Third Brother’s words, I felt terrified. That sentence, "If you don't come, you might not see her again," was deeply etched in my mind. I sat in the taxi in agony, holding my head, urging the driver to go faster from time to time.

When I arrived at Night Color Bar, I saw a crowd gathered at the entrance. I pushed through the crowd and saw a pool of blood on the ground. I was completely stunned, because the person lying on the ground was none other than Su Xueyan. I ran over frantically and held the Su Xueyan on the ground, my expression nearing a breakdown.